PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Flyers have agreed to terms with defenseman Jamie Drysdale on a four-year contract worth $26 million.
Drysdale will count $6.5 million against the salary cap through the 2029-30 NHL season.
“We’re excited to have Jamie remain a key part of our organization for years to come,” Flyers general manager Daniel Briere said in a statement on Friday. “Since we acquired him, Jamie has worked extremely hard and taken big steps in his development, and has established himself as a reliable piece on our back end with the ability to impact the game in all situations. We believe his best hockey is still ahead of him, and he’s going to play an important role in strengthening our blue line as we continue to build.”
The 24-year-old Drysdale had a career-high eight goals, including three game-winners, and matched his career best with 32 points in his second full season with Philadelphia. He averaged more than 21 minutes of ice time over 78 regular-season games to help the Flyers make the playoffs.
Drysdale became the fifth defenseman in franchise history to score in his first postseason game and finished with two goals and two assists in 10 games.
Drysdale has 25 goals and 77 assists in parts of six NHL seasons with Philadelphia and Anaheim.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are slight -115 moneyline favorites tonight against the New York Yankees in the first game out of the All-Star break, but my Dodgers vs. Yankees predictions are taking the home side.
Roki Sasaki’s loud-contact issues are a bad fit against a Yankees lineup that still wins through lift and power, while Gerrit Cole gives New York a pitching edge.
Who will win Dodgers vs Yankees today: Yankees moneyline (+101)
If the New York Yankees are going to make a charge in the AL East, there's no better time than now against the best team in baseball, the Los Angeles Dodgers. I’m playing them down to -110.
Roki Sasaki's biggest flaw runs into New York’s best offensive path. Sasaki has allowed a 12.8% barrel rate and 44.9% hard-hit rate, and his four-seamer has been hit for a .606 SLG.
These are all things the Yankees excel at, arriving at this game with the highest barrel rate in baseball, the third-highest hard-hit rate, and several strong hitters against the heater.
COVERS INTEL:Sasaki’s 9.4% walk rate is above MLB average, giving New York a traffic base before its power bats get to swing.
Dodgers vs Yankees Over/Under pick: Over 9.5 (+105)
I’m playing the Over because both offenses have a clear matchup path. Sasaki’s fastball and barrel issues give New York a real chance to do damage early, even without Aaron Judge.
Gerrit Cole is the better starter, but this is still the Dodgers’ lineup. And he hasn't been "vintage Cole" either. L.A. can punish his elevated-contact profile, with Cole allowing a 9.2% barrel rate and 40.3% hard-hit rate this season.
I projected 10.1 and would play this to -115.
Chris Hatfield's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 39-34, +7.42 units
Over/Under bets: 43-32, +13.32 units
Dodgers vs Yankees weather
Slight bump for the offenses with temperatures above 80F at first pitch and a slight breeze going toward left-center field. Keep an eye out for any time changes or a postponement due to bad air quality in the NYC area stemming from Canadian wildfires.
Dodgers vs Yankees odds
Moneyline: Dodgers -110 | Yankees -106
Run line: Dodgers -1.5 | Yankees +1.5
Over/Under: Over 9.5 | Under 9.5
Dodgers vs Yankees trend
The Yankees have hit the moneyline in four of their last five games (+3.25 Units / 50% ROI).
How to watch Dodgers vs Yankees and game info
Location
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Date
Friday, July 17, 2026
First pitch
7:05 p.m. ET
TV
YES, SportsNet Los Angeles
Dodgers starting pitcher
Roki Sasaki (3-5, 5.33 ERA)
Yankees starting pitcher
Gerrit Cole (3-4, 4.04 ERA)
Dodgers vs Yankees latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
He was a prominent figure at Fanatics Fest in New York, appearing in a live taping of a podcast with Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton. He was part of a CNBC panel and was named the “Athlete of the Century” at the Time100 Sports Gala.
Yet when asked about his next team, James was only coy, deflecting and dodging questions, even though he hinted that his final decision may have even already been made.
“I would like him to make his announcement already, so we can finish the schedule,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Thursday, July 16 during the CNBC Sport x Boardroom Game Plan Summit. “Because, as you might imagine, the teams are calling us, the networks are calling us, and everybody wants to lock in the (NBA regular season) schedule.”
So, what’s the reason for the holdup?
The short answer: James is taking his time because he can. No active player in the NBA has the stature and reputation that he does, so he has earned the right to conduct business on his own terms.
If it means deliberating for weeks, then so be it. If it means indulging James, should this be what he wants, allowing him to bask in the pursuit and attention he’s drawing from other teams, then so be it. Even if that means generating more footage for a rumored documentary about his season and the end of his career, so be it.
Whether prospective teams and fan bases like it or not, these are simply the operational costs of signing a player like LeBron James.
LeBron James has all the information he needs. He'll control the pace
Practically everything James does, at least professionally, is by design. He’s a detail-oriented athlete and businessman, and he’s image-conscious. So whenever a decision comes down – whether he or his agent Rich Paul leak it to their preferred reporter or whether James announces it himself on social media or in a first-person op-ed – it will be executed the way he wants it.
The NBA’s all-time leading scorer and a 22-time All-Star, James will embark on his record 24th NBA season. He has maintained that he wants to compete for championships. Earlier in the week, a person with direct knowledge of the matter told USA TODAY Sports that James has all the information he needs from prospective teams and that he would be weighing his options.
Either way, James is certainly assessing each of those rosters and trying to ascertain where he fits best and which gives him the most likely chance to win. Presumably, this will be the final stop of James’ career, so it makes sense for him to be calculated and deliberate. That’s only magnified further if James is indeed leaning toward the 76ers, Warriors or Timberwolves, each of which would be new stops.
So my best suggestion to fans who might be tired of the speculation is to embrace patience, because at the end of the day, James is going to do things the way he wants. He has earned that right.
Jul 9, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin (30) congratulates first baseman Matt Olson (right) crossing home plate on a solo home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Welcome back to your regularly scheduled program of Atlanta Braves baseball.
The roster has been released, and let’s just say it’s an exact copy-and-paste of how they ended the half.
Facing the Texas Rangers tonight, Drake Baldwin will be leading off with Brewer Hicklen returning to the lineup to take over right field and batting ninth.
Chris Sale is taking the mound and looking for a surge in offensive production as the second half of the season kicks off. No more quiet bats or late starts. It’s time to set the tone at Truist Park to show up how they did in the earlier half of the season… at least, Braves country could only hope.
The Braves avoided a sweep to end the first half of the season with this same lineup. Can they surpass where they left off?
MEMPHIS, TN - MARCH 20: The sneakers worn by Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics before the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on March 20, 2026 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Memphis Grizzlies continue to mourn the loss of 29-year-old Brandon Clarke, who died on May 11.
The team's latest tribute to the late-power forward included a tribute memorial in his honor, placed in the Grizzlies locker room at FedEx Forum located in Memphis, Tennessee.
Grizzlies center Zach Edey posted a picture to his social media page on Instagram where he revealed a depiction of a memorial that reads, "Brandon Clarke 1996-2026 Forever in our hearts".
“We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of Brandon Clarke," the Grizzlies announced in a May tweet. "Brandon was an outstanding teammate and an even better person whose impact on the organization and the greater Memphis community will not be forgotten. We express our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”
Remembering Brandon Clarke
Clarke was the No. 21 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, originally selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder. He spent his entire career with the Grizzlies following a trade to Memphis on July 7, 2019.
Clarke was born in Vancouver and moved to the United States when he was 3. He grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, where he eventually starred at Desert Vista High School.
"Sad day," Sam Duane Jr., who coached Corona del Sol to that 2015 state championship win over Desert Vista, told the Arizona Republic. "Brandon was a tremendous player, elite competitor. He played with great passion and intensity, while, at the same time, respected his opponents and the game. He was extremely hard to compete against, but easy to root for."
Clarke went on to play at San Jose State, where he earned the Mountain West Conference Sixth Man of the Year as a freshman. After playing his sophomore season in the Bay Area, he transferred to Gonzaga and spent his final two collegiate seasons with the Bulldogs.
One person has more influence over him than anyone else.
It’s not his close friend Draymond Green, who had his ear during recent travels. Nor Steph Curry, who made a pitch for him to join the Warriors on “Good Morning America.”
LeBron James and his daughter, Zhuri, have already made special memories together on and off the court. Getty Images
It’s not Giannis Antetokounmpo, the 31-year-old superstar who was traded to Miami last month. Nor Heat president Pat Riley, who after acquiring Antetokounmpo said, “There’s another [plane] we have to land.”
It’s not Brandon Weems, James’ childhood friend who’s now an assistant general manager for the Cavaliers. Or Tyrese Maxey, who’s leading the 76ers’ pursuit of the megastar.
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Zhuri has been seen at more of LeBron’s games over the past couple of years, including the 2024 Paris Olympics. Corbis via Getty ImagesJames must decide whether he wants to remain close to his family in California or head elsewhere. Getty Images for Fanatics
So, who is it?
“It’s my almost 12-year-old daughter who is pulling the weight a lot,” James said during a conversation with Rich Kleiman at Fanatics Fest on Thursday.
Yes, the fate of arguably the greatest NBA player of all time lies in the hands of a middle schooler.
James is 41 years old and has played an unprecedented 23 NBA seasons. He knows better than anyone the sacrifice greatness requires. He still shows up to practice facilities three hours early. He still arrives at arenas five hours before tipoff.
So, when he decided to leave the Lakers after eight seasons — his longest consecutive stretch anywhere in his career — his professional and personal goals collided.
It meant he would not only be away from his family because he wholeheartedly devotes himself to the sport, but for the first time in his career he’d likely be in a different city than them.
James has repeatedly said that his family — mainly Zhuri and Savannah — will play a major factor in his free agency decision. Instagram/@lebronjames
Zhuri is his main concern.
His wife, Savannah, signed up for this life. As for his sons? Bronny is almost 22 and plays for the Lakers. Bryce is 19 and plays for Arizona.
Zhuri has lived in Los Angeles since she was a preschooler. It’s where her friends are. It’s where she’s becoming a volleyball star. Uprooting her would be extremely difficult.
That’s why it’s hard to imagine James choosing anywhere besides Golden State to finish his career.
He’d be a 45-minute flight from Los Angeles, which is less time than it took him to commute from his Brentwood home to the downtown arena when he played for the Lakers.
You think he’d want to go to the East Coast and be a five-hour flight from his family?
I don’t see that happening. Sorry, Cleveland, Miami and Philadelphia.
His third free-agency decision is bigger than basketball. It’s about his happiness. And that’s inextricably tied to being close to his daughter.
LeBron James and his family have been in Los Angeles for nearly a decade together. Getty Images
On the Fourth of July, James revealed that he had a conversation with Zhuri.
“I pulled her to the side, and I was like, ‘Baby, I don’t want you to hear from nobody else, but I won’t be playing for the Lakers next year,'” James said at Fanatics Fest. “I will be playing somewhere else. So, I won’t be home all the time. And you may not have an answer right now — you can give me an answer now, you can wait, you can write it down. Just want to know how you’re feeling about it because you mean a lot to me.”
James has always taken fatherhood very seriously. His dad was absent. He vowed to be different.
His dream was to become the first NBA player to play alongside his son. After his first season alongside Bronny in 2024-25, he was asked where that ranked among his accomplishments, including four championships and four MVP Awards.
“Number one, for sure,” he said. “That’s easy. It’s not even close.”
Staying in California and playing north in the Bay Area with Steph Curry and the Warriors could give James the best of both worlds. Getty Images
As for Zhuri?
She has him wrapped around her finger.
He brought her on the first father-daughter trip of his career in February when the Lakers played the Warriors. They visited Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge. They went out to dinner.
She was on the court with him as he warmed up before the game. She made a trick shot behind her back from the foul line and then gave her dad a high-five. She threw him a lob.
“It’s definitely softened me up,” James said of being a girl dad after the Lakers’ 129-101 win on Feb. 28. “So, it’s special to have her. You know, it’s a different type of love.”
A few months later, James posted on Instagram a Father’s Day card from Zhuri in which she praised him for being “steady, patient and always there when it mattered the most.” In the caption, James wrote that he “couldn’t hold” back the emotions.
James has hinted that next season might not be his last one. Currently, his top destinations are Cleveland, Miami, Golden State, Philadelphia and Minnesota.
But it’s hard to imagine James choosing anywhere besides the Warriors — and not because he’d play alongside the greatest shooter of all time on the league’s modern-day dynasty.
“People are like, hurry up and make a goddamn decision, Bron,” he said at Fanatics Fest. “It’s like, OK, it’s not just about the team.
“… I won’t hold you guys up too much longer,” he said. “But the family portion is huge for me.”
James wants to win his fifth ring. He wants to enjoy his teammates. He wants the end of his illustrious career to be meaningful.
There are many considerations.
But at the top of that list is an 11-year-old girl whom he loves more than anything.
The back-to-back American League MVP underwent imaging on Wednesday that showed healing in his rib, but not enough to clear him for baseball activities just yet.
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He and the team were still waiting to hear back from a rib specialist to see if he might be able to get the green light to at least begin some upper-body exercises, which would represent a minor victory since has not been able to do any of them for the six weeks since he was diagnosed with the injury.
As of Friday afternoon, though, Judge remained in a holding pattern as the Yankees opened the second half of the season without him — as they will continue to be for the foreseeable future.
“Definitely a positive sign that we’re seeing some healing,” Judge said. “Part of it’s healing, the other part of it’s still trying to bridge together. I think that’s what we’re trying to wait and see if we can get some confirmation of what we can start doing.”
Aaron Judge (99) hits a walk-off two-run home run in the 9th inning against the Tampa Bay Rays. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Judge indicated was “definitely” confident he will still be able to get back on the field this year – “I don’t see why not,” he said, which manager Aaron Boone echoed.
“I feel good about the fact that he’ll be back,” Boone said. “But it’s just a matter of when.”
Yankees Aaron Judge reacts on the dugout fence during the sixth inning when the New York Yankees played the Minnesota Twins Saturday, July 4, 2026 at Yankee Stadium Robert Sabo for NY Post
It remains to be seen how long Judge would need to get himself ready to play in games once he is cleared to resume baseball activities, though at this point, getting back at some point in August might be wishful thinking.
GM Brian Cashman had cautioned last week that the Yankees did not expect Judge’s rib to be fully healed yet. But they were at least hoping he would be cleared to do more than the lower-body exercises he has been limited to since the start of June.
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That said, they do not want to push Judge too soon because if he were to suffer a setback, it could potentially jeopardize his ability to play again this season.
“[There were a] couple weeks that were tough, really couldn’t do a lot, but now we’re feeling 10 times better,” Judge said. “That was my big complaint, ‘Well if I’m feeling better, how about we start moving?’ But I think they just don’t want to start adding baseball activities and other stuff and all of a sudden we have a setback and it pushes everything back. I think they want to be sure it’s healing up the right way so we can get back as soon as we can.”
Asked if he would need the equivalent of spring training (six weeks) once he does start baseball activities, Judge indicated he was hoping for a shorter runway – including not wanting to “waste” at-bats in a rehab assignment, though skipping one altogether seems unlikely and it is still well off in the distance.
Before they opened the second half with a showdown series against the Dodgers, the Yankees were still waiting to hear back from Dr. Gregory Pearl – the same specialist they consulted with for the original diagnosis – to determine what Judge will be able to do in the coming days and when his next round of imaging would be. Since the beginning of June, he has mostly been limited to lower-body exercises like walking on the treadmill, and briefly riding an exercise bike before they “shied away from that.”
"Sometime around September 1st is probably a good guess. They (Yankees) wouldn't make one but that's my guess."@JonHeyman reacts to the latest injury update on Yankees captain Aaron Judge. pic.twitter.com/d3yk03N4Pb
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) July 17, 2026
In the meantime — with the Yankees entering Friday 18-19 without Judge and three games back of the Rays for the division lead — the painful waiting game continued.
“It’s been the worst,” Judge said. “I want to play. That’s why I’m here, that’s why I get paid, to play big games for the Yankees. Especially with the team we have, how special it is, how special this group is, I want to be a part of everything. It’s been tough, but we got a lot of great guys in this clubhouse that’ve been holding their own and kind of carrying the weight of this team. [Paul Goldschmidt], [Cody Bellinger], what they’ve been doing, Ben Rice, it’s been fun to watch.
Feb 25, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; New York Yankees infielder George Lombard Jr (96) hits a two-RBI double during the fifth inning against the Washington Nationals at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Good afternoon everyone, it’s time to dive back into the mailbag and answer some of your questions. Remember to send in your questions for our weekly call by e-mail to pinstripealleyblog [at] gmail [dot] com.
Michael G. asks:The Reds seem to be falling out of the race. Would Stephenson make some some sense? He’s a free agent at year end and healthy.
Stephenson would, and right now I’d say he’s the fallback option if the Yankees can’t pry Ryan Jeffers or Hunter Goodman away from Minnesota or Colorado. It’s not a priority pick, because Stephenson’s offensive capacity is nowhere close to those two with just an 86 wRC+ this season, but when you compare that to what the Yankees have gotten out of their catchers it’s still an upgrade. The main reason that Stephenson could end up in pinstripes though is that the Rockies have been hesitant to include Goodman in trade talks because they see him as a building block towards getting out of the gutter, while the Twins have managed to stay in the playoff race despite hovering around .500 basically the whole season. Things could shift on either front, but if they both stand firm and the Yankees end up with neither of them then Stephenson becomes an option that the team more readily considers.
Darth_Lazarus asks: Given he’s had a month or so adjustment period before he starts hitting with every promotion, does it make sense to contemplate bringing up Lombard? Assuming he’d come up around the deadline would he have time to be ready for playoff pitching?
There’s been plenty of speculation about whether George Lombard Jr. will see the field in the Bronx this year, fueled in equal parts by his strong rise through the organization’s minor leagues as well as the lack of enthusiasm for the current shortstop options in José Caballero and Anthony Volpe. I think I’d be more gung-ho about the potential of Lombard making an impact on this year’s title hunt if he hadn’t gotten injured and missed the last month of playing time, because it looked like he’d turned a corner on Triple-A pitching and was starting to put the pieces together. Now he’ll need to get back into the rhythm again and absolutely rake in a short period of time to warrant a shot with enough time to adjust to the major league level, but to his credit his rehab games in Rookie ball have already gone swimmingly with a pair of homers in as many games. It’s not out of the realm of possibility, but it’s also a pretty significant gamble to mess with the development time of the organization’s top prospect when there are questions still to be answered about his contact rate that could cause major issues against major leaguers.
While there’s a narrow window for this timeline to work out, at the very least it’s not one inhibited by the Trade Deadline. The Yankees won’t be going out to get a shortstop from another team, and it’s also not likely that they’ll be looking for infield help anywhere that could impact this situation. Caballero and Volpe may not be inspiring choices to stick in the starting lineup, but they’re also far from the biggest problem with this roster — both are hitting to a 95 wRC+, just a shade below average in an offense that’s been far more feast or famine elsewhere, and while I sympathize with people who just simply have Anthony Volpe Fatigue at this point due to the occasional boneheaded play his defense overall has looked much closer to his first couple of seasons than his terrible play last year. The onus is on Lombard to impress enough to make his way onto the roster rather than an outright need that has to be addressed here and now, and if he does then there’s a world where his high ceiling plays a part in New York’s October baseball lasting longer than a week or so.
BetweenthePinstripes asks:Has the league shifted towards being more aggressive with promoting younger prospects to the big leagues? If so, are there (relatively) new financial incentives for teams to accelerate a prospect’s development?
We’re sticking with Volpe as the topic here for a minute, as this question was asked in tandem to a response that Derek Jeter had over the All-Star break when asked about the Yankee shortstop. You can read the full comments that Jeter gave here, but I’ll highlight the ones that were pulled out for this question in particular.
“I think as a young player, it’s obvious the Yankees have made a commitment to Anthony….They’re committed to allowing him to continue developing at the major league level. At times, fans get frustrated watching that, but every player goes through it. Every player has gone through bumps in the road. Most of the time, those bumps happen in the minor leagues….It’s tough to go through growing pains at the major league level.“
There are new incentives for top prospects in particular, namely the Prospect Promotion Incentive baked into the last CBA that prompts teams to start promising rookies right away on their Opening Day rosters instead of stashing them in the minors long enough to earn another year of control over their contracts. The return is that they’ll be rewarded with a draft pick if said players win Rookie of the Year or finish in the top three for an MVP or Cy Young Award before they become arbitration-eligible.
The Yankees have not gotten lucky enough to qualify for these picks, though you could argue that this clause in the CBA has still brought about a wave of teams leaning on prospects earlier than expected as the team brought up Cam Schlittler midway through last year and had Ben Rice debut midseason the year before that despite not having had significant time spent down in the minors. Neither one of those players were considered to be contenders to become the players they are now, but they got their shot because the team wasn’t as concerned with holding out for team control as much as they were seeking help for a sudden hole the team needed to fill. It could’ve easily been a journeyman fill-in or a Triple-A mainstay that could’ve been elevated for the starts needed at the time, and that would’ve been the old Yankees’ operating procedure, but the door is more open now than it felt a decade ago. Whether that constitutes a faster pace than there has ever been or if it’s just a course correction from how conservative teams have been with prospects prior to the past few years is a different conversation, but there’s definitely been a notable enough shift.
Jul 17, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Griffin Jax (22) walks to the dugout after being relieved during the sixth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images | Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
Welcome back from the All-Star Break, everyone! Hopefully the Rays are well-rested and recharged, because their second half is getting started with a doubleheader against the Red Sox. In the afternoon game, we had Griffin Jax on the mound for the Rays up against Jake Bennett for the Sox.
Jonathan Aranda got a one-out walk in the first, but he was the Rays’ only baserunner for the inning and they left him stranded. Jax did turn it around, though, getting the Red Sox out in order in the home half.
The Rays went 1-2-3 in the top of the second. In the bottom of the inning, things started to go badly for Jax almost immediately. Caleb Durbin singled, then Masataka Yoshida doubled, putting to runs in scoring position. With one out, a Jarren Duran sac fly scored the first run of the game for the Sox. Carlos Narvaez followed that with a single to score one more. Jax did get the final out of the inning, but the Red Sox were up 2-0 after two.
The Rays went three-up, three-down in the third. Anthony Seigler started the home half with a single, but was eliminated in a force out off the bat of Ceddanne Rafaela. Rafaela then stole second. Two outs followed, though, getting the Rays out of the jam.
Junior Caminero proved he’s feeling just fine after his ASG injury with a one-out single in the fourth. Unfortunately the next two batters were out in order to leave him stranded. Yoshida came out swinging in the home half, with a leadoff home run. Jax did collect the next three outs in order, thankfully.
If you need baserunners to score runs, the Rays weren’t doing a great job of catching up on the Red Sox’s lead. They went 1-2-3 in the fifth. In the home half, Seigler got a one-out single, but the Red Sox left him stranded.
Nick Fortes got a free bag in the sixth, getting hit by a pitch to start the inning, but the Rays went down in order after him. While Jax had been doing a creditable job of staying out of trouble through most of the game, in the bottom of the sixth, things really fell off the tracks. Durbin was hit by a pitch to start the inning, then Yoshida singled. Romy Gozalez walked to load the bases. A single by Duran scored two runs. That was it for Jax, who was replaced by Chris Roycroft, but the bleeding didn’t stop. Narvaez singled to score one more run. And then Tsung-Che Cheng singled, bringing one more runner home. Seigler grounded into a double play, which the Rays desperately needed, but then Rafaela doubled to score yet another run. Wilyer Abreu was intentionally walked, but it didn’t help anything because Durbin singled, scoring another run. By the time the Rays got the final out of the inning, the Red Sox were up 9-0. After accounting for the runners on base when he was pulled, Jax’s final line for the game was 5.0 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 1 HR on 85 pitches. Rough times.
Alec Gamboa replaced Bennett in the seventh, and he continued the trend of getting the Rays out in order. With two outs in the home half, Narvaez hit a solo home run. The Rays managed to stop the bleeding there, but with a 10-run lead for the Red Sox, perhaps they should just start saving their energy for the evening game.
Taylor Walls got a one-out double in the eighth, but the Rays left him out there, and no runs scored. The Rays opted to save their bullpen by the bottom of the eighth, bringing in Ben Williamson to take on the Sox. He got the first two outs before giving up a single to Abreu on a 44mpg Eephua pitch, which is just about the funniest sentence I’ll write today. I love a position player pitching. Durbin then singled as well. No runs scored, though, so Williamson might have been one of the most effective pitchers of the game.
With two outs in the top of the ninth, Ryan Vilade squeaked in a single, but it wouldn’t be enough to mount a comeback. The Rays fell to the Sox, but hopefully in game two the results will be a little different.
Nothing would better indicate the change that 2026 has wrought on the Central Division than Kansas City selling off Michael Wacha to the White Sox. | (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images)
At the midseason break, the 50-45 White Sox find themselves in the most ideal place one could ask for: Tied for first with Guardians, in one of the weakest MLB divisions — second to only the AL West by a couple of games, and with their starters all healthy. For a team seeking to finish better than .500 with a manageable path to the postseason, Chicago is finally poised to be buyers at the trade deadline on August 3.
To outlast the Guardians and fend off the Twins and Tigers, the Sox must amend their starting pitching deficit. The starters sit in the middle of the pack with a 4.32 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and .245 batting average allowed. While those figures seem acceptable, the club has allowed the third-most runs among winning teams in the American League (419). The culprit lies in a quasi five-man rotation that has yet to produce a reliable ace at home and on the road. While Davis Martin occupies that spot at Rate Field, his 4.72 ERA, .289 batting average allowed and 21 walks away from home nullifies his Cy Young candidacy.
Luckily, there are a handful of starting pitchers who can offer decent value before the leaves start to turn.
Michael Wacha, Royals Affordable rental arms are hard to come by, but Wacha fits the bill. His modest 3.77 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 2.2 WAR are attractive, but his value jumps when factoring in his 12 quality starts and working relationship with White Sox pitching coach Zach Bove. Wacha’s dramatic drops in efficiency and accuracy are worth the tradeoff for his nearly 15 years of pitching expertise and upside he offers for two, or potentially three months of service. The Sox love dealing with the Royals, so why not get another trade done?
Foster Griffin, Nationals Griffin is expected to be a hot commodity on the trade block. The impending free agent came back from a three-year hiatus playing for Japan’s Yomiuri Giants looking like a brand-new pitcher. Griffin went from a frustrating reliever, to put it nicely, to a more polished starter, earning a 2.77 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 109 strikeouts while pitching six or more innings in more than half his starts. Aside from two really poor outings, Griffin is one of the biggest stories of Washington’s rebuild under its new front office. The Sox must pursue Griffin if they’re looking to be serious competitors for the remainder of the season.
Logan Webb, Giants If the Sox are looking to push their chips in this season, Webb wouldn’t be a bad option. Although the Giants will command a higher price tag for the 2023 NL Cy Young runner-up, Webb’s current pitching and resume speaks for itself. He holds a 3.44 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP, and his complete game against the Marlins is a strong indicator that the awful Giants haven’t taken advantage of his prowess this season. The Sox may need to overpay in a league where three division leaders have a three-game lead on the third-place team, but Chicago shouldn’t be sparing a penny given the shortage of starters with contracts expiring this year.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 13: Jack Kayil #77 of the New York Knicks shoots the ball during the game against the Detroit Pistons on July 13, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Candice Ward/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Traditionally, the Las Vegas Summer League serves as a location for evaluating established young talent and first-round draft picks. Entering the summer, many assumed the Knicks’ 39th-overall selection, Jack Kayil, was your typical draft-and-stash prospect. Providing more fuel to that expectation, his name was absent from the initial summer league roster. While New York navigates the financial constraints of the second apron, having Kayil spend next season developing with ALBA Berlin made some sense.
Since then, the trajectory has changed. After securing a last-minute clearance from his team in Germany, Kayil touched down in Las Vegas, joined the SummerKnicks, and demonstrated a level of play that demands a reevaluation of his developmental timeline.
Though Kayil is young, he does not fit the traditional profile of a raw prospect you typically find in the second round. Having recently captured a German Bundesliga championship, he possesses a legitimate European resume.
In Game 5 of the finals against Bayern Munich, his mental toughness was on full display. Facing a 20-point halftime deficit, Kayil conducted a historic comeback, scoring 10 points in the final six minutes of play. It might not be at NBA Finals Game 4 level, but it is still impressive. That level of composure in high-pressure situations is a necessary trait for any guard looking to make their mark in the NBA. Kayil possesses a willingness to take command of an offense when it matters most, similar to another point guard we know well.
Of course, translating European success to the NBA Summer League is never a guarantee. However, Kayil’s performance lacks the typical rookie turbulence witnessed in mid-July. Though the Knicks struggled mightily on offense in his debut against the Spurs, Kayil served as a stabilizing force. Establishing a controlled pace and showcasing impressive poise, he posted a respectable 12 points and three assists.
Elevating his game even further against Detroit, Kayil recorded 19 points on 6-of-13 shooting while connecting on three attempts behind the arc. Defensively, he successfully anchored the point-of-attack defense, registering a team-high 3 steals. Much to the enjoyment of everyone, Kayil operates with the tempo and physical maturity of a seasoned guard.
It is worth noting that his performance has not been without flaws. Thursday night against the Warriors provided a reality check, losing to Golden State 87-77. Kayil struggled against the opposing length and deeper roster, ending the game with just 4 points on 2-of-9 shooting. Still, he found a way to impact the game. Contributing five rebounds and four assists over 29 minutes, Kayil showed an understanding of how to affect the game when his shot is heavily contested. This quality alone fits the mold of the Knicks’ championship DNA.
Kayil’s fit with New York’s current roster is intriguing. Offensively, his ability to navigate the pick-and-roll and execute in the clutch projects well. Still, the front office must have enough confidence in his foundation to successfully run the second unit and manage drop coverage. Defensively, he brings point-of-attack intensity, which is a must under Mike Brown. To earn minutes, he must succeed in defending the perimeter and navigating screens. Kayil’s three steals against Detroit show the exact type of disruption Brown’s system demands. If his instincts translate against NBA-caliber talent, Kayil could become an effective, two-way backup point guard.
— Thorsten Andratschke (@ThortschMann) July 17, 2026
Despite his potential NBA readiness, keeping Kayil in New York for the upcoming season comes with challenges. Of course, we cannot escape discussing the new CBA and the second apron, as they do complicate matters.
If the Knicks choose to offer Kayil a two-way contract, NBA regulations prohibit them from paying his overseas buyout. According to the rules, the buyout would have to be executed strictly between the player and ALBA Berlin. Yes, Kayil would have to independently pay for his buyout in order to accept a two-salary. Truthfully, this financial decision is unlikely.
While a two-roster spot may be available, the Knicks likely lack the cap space to offer their 20-year-old guard a standard NBA contract. That contract is the only legal way New York can cover his international buyout. Of course, this dampens things a little bit.
New York currently possesses a highly talented guard with professional championship experience whose NBA arrival may be blocked by cap constraints. Obviously, whether those constraints should be real is up for debate, but Dolan and company have made it quite clear they have no interest in entering the second apron. Unless Leon Rose successfully maneuvers the cap, or Dolan has a change of heart (unlikely), the Knicks will have to stash a player who looks NBA-ready.
Right when he was hired, Montreal Canadiens’ GM Kent Hughes explained that he wouldn’t be the kind of GM who buys high and sells low. He explained that he was a firm believer that players, once in the NHL, aren’t finished products and can keep improving. We’ve seen it with the likes of Cole Caufield, who has improved by leaps and bounds since graduating to the NHL and working under Martin St-Louis; the same can be said for Nick Suzuki, whose point production has skyrocketed without sacrificing his defensive game, which has improved as well.
One player who hasn’t improved, though, and that may mainly be down to injuries, is Kirby Dach. When Hughes sacrificed Alexander Romanov at the 2022 draft to get the first-round pick he flipped to the Chicago Blackhawks to acquire Dach, he was hoping that the Habs’ coaching staff could make him reach his full potential and become a big-bodied second-line center. That hasn’t happened; far from it.
Dach had a tough start to the playoffs; he was responsible for the Canadiens failing to take a 2-0 lead in the series and faced serious online backlash after that icing. With fans and media alike suggesting that he should be scratched from the lineup, St-Louis came out and stood by him, saying he would never give up on a player that hadn’t given up on himself. Dach had a great bounce-back game, but by the end of the playoffs, he was on the wing of the fourth line.
With his injury history and his struggles on the ice at the end of the playoffs, Dach’s value is at an all-time low. Not only has he failed to show he’s a center in the NHL, but at times he looks nonchalant on the ice. He’s not playing a hard game; he doesn’t come into the corners with speed to finish his checks and get the puck back. Even if he was a third-overall pick full of potential once upon a time, the last four years have taken the shine off him. While there’s a belief that there’s always a GM out there who thinks they can turn things around for a player, after all, Alex Galchenyuk had a second chance with six other teams after the Canadiens (he even had two kicks at the can with the Arizona Coyotes), it doesn’t seem to be the case for Dach, not right now. It must be said that Galchenyuk didn’t have Dach’s injury history, however.
At this stage, the forward is not only a player who has failed to reach his potential but also one who is injury-prone. He needs to prove that he can stay healthy and be a good player on the ice. Those are not great selling points. Right now, Dach is a throw-in for a larger deal; he cannot be the main piece to land a needle-moving player.
Given the fact that Hughes has been unable to strike a big deal to improve his roster, it’s not surprising that Dach is still a member of the Canadiens, but he has been given a stern warning. The fact that he was presented with a qualifying offer for a two-way contract speaks volumes about where he is in the organization right now, and so does the fact that he signed only a one-year contract.
While it’s not clear which of the two camps wanted a one-year deal, it doesn’t smell good. If the Canadiens only wanted to give him a one-year pact, it suggests they are getting ready to cut their losses on the player. They’re willing to pay him this year when his rights are still under team control, but unless things change dramatically, they don’t see him as a part of the team long-term. If Dach was the one who pushed for the one-year term, it suggests that he might have had his feathers ruffled by the two-way contract offer and will want to move on from the Canadiens once he becomes a UFA.
At the end of the 2024-25 season, in his exit interview, he was told that the organization wasn’t pleased with the physical form he showed up in at the start of camp and that he needed to do better. The qualifying offer he received means that the team wasn’t pleased with him this past season either, but it wasn’t ready to just let him walk away after investing assets to acquire him.
If he’s still with the Canadiens when the puck drops on the season, the Habs’ brass will simply be hoping that he can stay healthy and play in a way that will see him regain some value on the trade market. If the fact that he’ll be playing for a new contract and attempting to prove to the NHL that he belongs doesn’t motivate Dach to play well on both sides of the puck, I don’t know what will.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 12: Alfredo Duno #16 of the Cincinnati Reds on the National League Team hits during the 2026 MLB Futures Game at Citizens Bank Park on July 12, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Each and every summer, the MLB All Star Futures Game features rosters loaded with prospect talent representing both the American League and National League. This year, that was no different, as top catching prospect Alfredo Duno repped the Cincinnati Reds in the event which took place at some point during the myriad happenings surrounding the All Star Game itself.
Did you get to watch it? Did you even hear when it was supposed to be played?
Instead of creating a showcase for the game the way MLB does for the Home Run Derby on the Monday before the Game itself on Tuesday, it was buried as a noon first pitch on Sunday, July 12th against a full slate of actual MLB games as teams wrapped up the first halves of their season. It was held to just a 7 inning exhibition format, and it was impossible for you to have watched it and watched your MLB team at the same time.
Why won’t MLB create a showcase for the game itself? Perhaps hold it as a Sunday Night Baseball showcase since that time slot wasn’t occupied by any other baseball-adjacent feature. You could even run it on Wednesday after the ASG itself!
Point being, the national question posed to baseball fans this week during MLB Reacts was whether the Futures Game should be showcased more during All Star week, and an overwhelming 85% of fans think it absolutely should be.
Duno, one of Cincinnati’s best prospects in years, started the game for the National League and went 0 for 2 (with one of those being a 400 foot fly out to CF that just missed clearing the wall). Unless you were willing to abandon watching the Reds for the final time before a four-day break for that opportunity, you didn’t get to see him do that.
It’s time for Rob Manfred to use the already-excellent Futures Game concept in a way that both showcases the players involved and provides a clearer path for fans to enjoy it.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is raring to go with the Heat.
The two-time MVP, acquired by Miami in a blockbuster trade last month, told ESPN that his motivation level is “at a million percent” following the deal.
“It’s a place I feel like brings pressure, and I thrive under pressure. It brings the best out of me,” he said.
“I’m excited to be coached by [Erik Spoelstra]. I’m excited to be around the city. I understand the fans are very passionate, but right now, I’m hungry to win. I want to win and I will do whatever it takes for me to win.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo is highly motivated to bring another champion ship to Miami IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Antetokounmpo was acquired by the Heat in exchange for Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, three first-round picks, one pick swap and a second-round pick.
His former Bucks teammate, Bobby Portis, also went with him to South Beach.
Now, Antetokounmpo, 31, will look to become the latest star to bring a Larry O’Brien trophy to Miami.
“You walk through the hallways and you see the history and you see the players that have been a part of this organization and things that they’ve done,” he said. “I want to make all the moves that they’ve made worth it.”
Antetokounmpo will suit up in Miami for his 14th NBA season — and on the back of a disappointing few years in Milwaukee.
Following the team’s Finals win in 2021, the Bucks never made it past the second round of the playoffs, and they missed the postseason altogether last year with a 32-50 record.
The two-time MVP was traded from the Bucks in a blockbuster deal this summer AP Photo/Marta Lavandier
Antetokounmpo, though, still had a strong individual season, and Portis believes his “hungry” teammate is ready to bounce back.
“Obviously last year, probably not the best year for any one of us. We didn’t make the playoffs. It was kind of injury-riddled last year,” Portis said.
“Obviously the back and forth with getting traded, not getting traded, then get shut down by the team. So I think he has a lot of fuel to the fire and I think the [Miami] fans will be in for a treat.”
The Heat missed the playoffs last year and were eliminated in the first round during the 2024-25 and 2023-24 playoffs.
However, they’re just three years removed from their trip to the Finals in 2023 — and they’ll hope to get back there with Antetokounmpo.
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